Ballad of the Goodly Fere

I don't remember when I first came across this poem, but I've loved it ever since. 'Fere' is Old English for companion, and it's told through the eyes of the Apostle Peter, but the descriptions are lovely, and it's depiction of Jesus is exquisite and really challenged my perception of Him.

Ballad of the Goodly Fere: 

Ha' we lost the goodliest fere of all 

For the priests and the gallows tree? 

Aye, lover was He of brawny men,

O' ships and the open sea. 

When they came wi' a host to take our man 

His smile was good to see. 

'First let these go' quo our Goodly Fere

'Or I'll see ye damned' says He. 

Aye He sent us out through the high crossed spears

And the scorn of His laugh rang free. 

'Why took ye not me when I walked about 

Alone in the town?' says He. 

Oh, we drank His 'Hale' in the good red wine

When we last made company. 

No capon priest was the Goodly Fere, 

But a man o' men was He. 

I ha' seen Him drive an hundred men 

Wi' a bundle o' cords swung free

That they took the high and holy house

For their pawn and treasury. 

They'll no' get Him in a book, I think 

Though they write it cunningly. 

No mouse of the scrolls was the Goodly Fere, 

But aye loved the open sea. 

If they think they ha' snared our Goodly Fere, 

They are fools to the last degree. 

'I'll go to the feast' quo our Goodly Fere,

'Though I go to the gallows tree'. 

'Ye ha' seen me heal the lame and blind

And wake the dead' says he. 

'Ye shall see one thing to master all. 

'Tis how a brave man dies on the tree'. 

A Son of God was the Goodly Fere

That bade us His brothers be. 

I ha' seen Him cow a thousand men. 

I ha' seen Him upon the tree. 

He cried no cry when they drave the nails

And the blood gushed hot and free. 

The hounds of the crimson sky gave tongue 

But never a cry cried He. 

I ha' seen Him cow a thousand men 

On the hills of Galilee. 

They whined as He walked out calm between 

Wi' His eyes like the grey o' the sea 

Like the sea that brooks no voyaging

With the winds unleashed and free. 

Like the sea that He cowed at Genseret 

Wi' twey words spoke' suddently. 

A master o' men was the Goodly Fere

A mate of the wind and the sea. 

If they think they ha' slain our Goodly Fere

They are fools eternally. 

I ha' seen Him eat of the honeycomb

Sin' they nailed Him to the tree. 

- Ezra Pound.